I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and Alcove Press; all opinions are exclusively my own.

I was intrigued by the description of this book online, "The Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic", but wasn't exactly sure what that would entail. I do know that what I got was a delightful blend of fantasy and reality, with a heavy dose of an emotional core that felt true even on the pages of a book. More than just a romantic comedy, this tale is all about family, loss, sacrifice, and love in all the many ways it can take shape. The recipes included are intriguing, as well. Completely and whole-heartedly recommend this title!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, the writing style was a little too flowery in places, and the characters felt a little wooden. May try again in the future

Whimsical and magical. This book is Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic (as described) and I loved it! It is a great mix of romance, fantasy, and family drama. I didn’t want to put it down. It's the perfect cozy fall read.

I also loved that there are recipes at the end of each chapter. I can’t wait to try some of them when the book comes out!

A heart-wrenching and uplifting tale of family, food, and magic.

Sadie Revelare has always valued three things over anything else: family, food, and magic. And she's always known that for the Revelare family, with power comes a price. Her price? A curse of four heartbreaks. But she's always thought that her magical gifts were worth any cost. Even if her first two heartbreaks, the losses of her first love Jake and her brother Seth, left her unwilling or unable to trust other. The ability to help those around her through the food she makes is her pride and joy and she couldn't possibly imagine life without it.

But suddenly Jake returns to town and Sadie's magic begins to go haywire as old feelings threaten to resurface. Then, to complicate matters further Seth returns as well and Gigi reveals the most devastating truth of all: she's dying. She's dying, and she brings to light a dark family secret that reveals the reason why.

As Gigi's health worsens, and Sadie's third heartbreak looms ever nearer, she and Seth must work together to get to the bottom of their dark history before it is too late. All the while, things with Jake continue to complicate and Sadie is left wondering if there are some things out there worth losing your magic for.

This was such a deep and compelling read. I had no idea the level of story I was getting into when I requested this ARC and I don't regret a single second. I laughed, I cried, I got angry. I experienced such a full range of emotions reading this book. The only thing that keeps me from giving this a full five stars is I felt the solution to the problem at had was a bit contrived. I'd have liked to see a different way of resolving the curse instead of what felt like a typical self sacrifice mechanic that we see in a lot of romance novels and movies.

There were aspects of the plot that I found particularly hard to read because of personal experience, but that really just goes to show you that the author put a lot of time, care, and research into their writing. The fact that the events surrounding Gigi's illness were able to elicit such a deep response from me proves the execution was well done. And let's not talk about how absolutely wonderful it was to receive a full recipe after every single chapter! What a delightful and unusual touch!

Over all, I very much enjoyed this book and I hope we get to see more from the Revelare family. There are a wealth of additional stories to be told here and I for one will be among the first to read them if I can be!

After reading this book I immediately wanted Breanne Randall to write both a sequel to this book but also other books about the other founding families! I need to know more! There was such a world created in this novel, and I wish it was real. It's shocking how much could fit into a sub-400-page book.

In this book our main character Sadie has magic, but with her magic comes a curse. She will experience four heartbreaks in her life and then she will lose her magic. Because of that she is scared to love and does everything she can to ensure that people won't leave her, by bending over backward for everyone in her small town. When her first two heartbreaks come back to town and she finds out that her third heartbreak is on the horizon, Sadie has to learn how to love and let herself love, how to be someone outside of her magic, and how to have hope.

The first half of this book was so sad but the second half was so happy that it made up for it. I loved the family, and the friendships, Best part of the book was the unexpected recipes at the end of every chapter. I already want to make so many of them.

I will absolutely be rereading this book in the fall and making all these drinks and sweets during the fall too. Again, it's not a want but a need for more books. I want to escape to that world again and again and again.

A slow burner, that I really enjoyed soaking in. I loved that there were recipes in the chapters and I just found the whole story really, really beautiful. I got lost in each chapter, and found the characters all really likeable. I was moved by the plot line too and how it flowed. Perfect ending, hoping there is a follow on.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book.

A cross between Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls sounded right up my alley, but it just wasn’t for me.

The premise had a lot of promise, it’s kind of straight version of Heartbreak Bakery - small town girl, Sadie, runs a bakery with her Grandma, Gigi (who likes to “affectionately” call her grandchildren pissants…). She uses her magic to help the towns folk with their various ailments and what not, until Gigi dies and Sadie has to face her family’s big secret, a darkness that’s consuming her brother.

If I’m honest I found the both plot lines to be a bit predictable (which I could live with), I’m pretty happy to find out how a thing happened rather than necessarily being surprised by a twist. My big problem is that both resolutions just happen…

We know that the path to love is going to be cleared so Sadie and Jake can get together (it is a romance after all), but that happens mostly off screen.

There’s no building tension surrounding the main storyline - will the solution work? What if it doesn’t? We know it will work because Sadie’s so unconcerned she does nothing but bake and hang with her family for the five days leading up to the big event.

Amid questionable decisions, there’s not a moment where everything seems lost and the main character needs to work to get things back on track. Even the main character arc just kinda happens. She decides to do the thing, does it, her whole life is turned upside down, but she’s suddenly okay with it even though she’s lost the one thing that the author has spent the whole book telling us Sadie couldn’t live without.

Like I said, I really wanted to love this book but all and all I kinda think it could do with another draft and round of edits

Also, where did Simon the cat come from? Was it just me or did he suddenly appear half way through the book for no apparent reason?

Anyway, a huge thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in return for this review.

I had a great time with this story. Very cozy small town fantasy with baking, a family curse, and a hint of romance. Sadie lives and runs a bakery with her grandmother in the town she grew up in and while their baked goods are delicious on their own, there’s a little magic in them too. Sadie has experienced many heartbreaks and worried about another, so she guards her heart and keeps to a very structured life. But of course things start happening that warn something bad is coming. I love when baking is incorporated into a novel, and this one includes recipes at the end of every chapter! I loved Sadie’s grandmother and her best friend Raquel. There’s sweet doggies, family drama, lots of laughs, but also moments that made me tear up. Highly recommend if you like small town stories with magic, baking and family. 4.25/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

At the heart of it, this book is about learning how to let go and become the person you're supposed to be. Sadie Revelare has known since she was a child that by accepting her magic, she also accepted a curse. Her curse is that she would suffer 4 heartbreaks in her life. The first heartbreak is losing her first love, Jake. Her second is when her twin brother leaves her behind. And her third? Her grandmother's cancer diagnosis. As she comes to terms with this horrible news, things begin to go awry. Jake shows back up, and then her brother. And then, her grandmother spills secrets that will change her life forever.

I enjoyed this book. It was a sweet, easy read that ticked all the boxes for a summer read. I enjoyed the recipes involved throughout as well.

I saw this book pass by on my Instagram feed and when I saw that they compared it to Gilmore Girls, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.
At first I had my doubts about a book being able to capture what I love about Gilmore Girls, but it truly succeeded. The characters in the book are all very loveable and the witty dialogue between them, makes you not want to put the book down.
Throw in some magic and you really have a winner on your hands. I especially love how the magic isn't portrayed in its stereotypically use of spells and curses, but more of the every day, practical magic (see what I did there?!).
There were even some bits in there that reminded me of the Disney movie "Encanto".

There's clearly room for a sequel so I'll be patiently waiting for that!

Oh and not to give away any spoilers, but I knew the true mening behind Gigi's words straight away. I was a bit bummed it took them that long to figure it out, but it was clearly part of the story.

This was such a cozy and charming read. I loved the magic and love that was put into every word of this book. I know the blurb says if you're a fan if practical magic and Gilmore girls..and fie the witchy vibes, curse and small town vibe, I can definitely feel this. However, this book stands alone on its own just fine.
I actually think it fell more in align with Like Water For Chocolate. The kitchen. The baking and cooking with love. The family. The recipes within. They may be two different novels but the love and comfort were so similar to me. Just both are ultimately beautiful and unique.

You can also feel the work the author put into this while working through the grief of her grandmother's loss. I wasn't aware of her loss until I finished the book and read the note. But this. This book. I felt it. I felt my own grief through it. But in a beautiful way. The grief Sadie was already battling when she learns of her grandmother's diagnosis and how it progresses. It's so real and raw.

I'm not sure how to put what I feel and think about this book correctly. It will resonate with me for a long while and I think it's going to become one of my comfort reads.

Thank You To Netgalley for the ARC!

“Hold on to hope no matter the cost, because as long as there’s hope, everything else is just the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic.”

2.5 Stars
Feel like this didn’t live up to the Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic vibes I envisioned. I can see glimpses of practical magic moments a little but other than a small town I didn’t see anything that gave me Gilmore Girls vibes. That being said I think that affected my perception of this book greatly if I hadn’t gone in thinking it would be a certain way I might have liked it more, only slightly. Sadie personality wise reminded me a little bit of Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood who was an ehh character for me, the whole family actually reminded me of them and once I thought it I couldn’t un-invision it. Overall not a fan of this book.

Liked: The magic set up how its mentioned as …practical magic like in cooking/baking simple things
Recipes at the end of each chapter
Message of how important family is.


Didn’t Like: Characters aren't very likable
Felt like the plot was a dramatic change from one feel into another.
Gigi randomly calling people “pissant’ or ‘“Shit Ass” as an endearing term….


This first maybe 6 chapters looking back I can see the kinda small town cozy vibe and then seemingly out of nowhere this plot twist happens almost all at once and the book takes a darker turn. The chapters were so long and I had to push myself to keep reading. Without being too in detail for spoilers sake from the acknowledgements I know the author was dealing with the death of a family member while writing this which might be why the part I'm referring to was more in detail than I felt it needed to be. (view spoiler) It just felt like it didn’t match the light cozy vibes of the first part of the book and even how the character herself was talking about it. It was an odd thing to go super in detail about when nothing else that happened in the book was ever explained as much. Once I got to maybe the last 5 chapters I started to like to book a little more, I tried to put my initial perceptions aside and it was an okay ending. That being said this book isn’t very long at all but I think if it was longer the transition from cozy to darker would have been more smooth. There was a lot jammed into this seemingly short book. Writing wise I had no issues. I really wanted to like this book and I can see why it’s 5 stars for some but for my reading preferences it just didn’t do it for me my brain latched onto the for Fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls and when it didn’t deliver I couldn't get past it. The end quote was cute and the kind of throw back nostalgic feel I was looking for but also at that point kinda an eye roll at the blatant play on the practical magic ending.

I really enjoyed The Unfortunate Side effects of Heartbreak and Magic. I love books with a magical element and the witch magic flows so nicely and real. I look forward to reading more by Breanne Randall.

Sadie is a witch and magic runs in the family. But for each gift there is a downside and for Sadie it is that she will experience four heartbreaks and the last will make her lose her magic.
We meet Sadie in her late 20s when she has already experienced two heartbreaks, is doing her best to keep her life structured and walled off from emotional ties.
Until of course her ex and her brother end up in town and life gets messy!!

It’s a great premise for a book and the cover is magnificent, but the writing style didn’t engage me. So much dialogue that was used to move the story forward - it became tiresome to me.

Not a bad debut and hopefully the author will have more to come (but perhaps with a different editor).

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley for this free preview for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. I loved the family interactions. I loved the romance and the sibling relationship too. My favorite part though would have to be all the recipes. I truly hope they are included in the finished product.

I have to say, "The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" by Breanne Randall had me hooked from the start and I'm giving it a solid four stars!

First things first, let's talk about the magical elements in this story. The blend of one of my favorite films, “Practical Magic” and the cozy vibes of "Gilmore Girls" created a truly enchanting atmosphere. It was like stepping into a world where anything was possible, the unique town characters made you feel like you belonged there - and I couldn't get enough of it.

One of the standout features of this book was the absolutely excellent prose. Breanne Randall's writing style is absolutely captivating. The descriptions were vivid, and the emotions were conveyed with such depth that I found myself fully immersed in the story. The way Randall spoke of magic, it was unlike anything I’ve read in another witchy book. It felt peaceful, natural, and deeply beautiful. But particularly - the way the author brought the house to life, making it feel like its own character, was particularly impressive.

Each chapter ends with a recipe correlating to the chapter and I can’t wait to try some out! 😍

Overall, "The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" is a captivating read that seamlessly gives us 90’s witch-core set in Stars Hollow-adjacent.

I highly recommend anyone looking for a magical and heartfelt read to grab your favorite cup of tea, cozy up in a comfy chair, and prepare to be whisked away into a world of magic, second chances, and really great food…. Happy reading!

Sadie Revelare is cursed. Everyone in her family is, really. But Sadie's cursed to four heartbreaks, each one growing increasingly worse. In the end? She loses her magic.

Her twin brother Seth skipped town years ago, but now he's back and ready to reveal family secrets all the while Sadie deals with an ex that refused to let her give up magic for him and her Gigi, who has been given a small amount of time left to live and pass on secrets of their magical family legacy.

This was billed as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. I can sort of see Practical Magic - the magic is soft and subtle, baking feelings into cakes, whipping up dinners to soothe nerves. I found this to be a pretty similar concept to Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells and First Frost, though I think it was less successful here - perhaps the detail was too overwhelming?

Each chapter follows-up with a recipe though - that was a really cute touch.

I do think this book lacked the witticism of Gilmore Girls, though. I think what I was expecting was more in line with the quips and humor. There's just small town energy here, though I missed the vibrancy of the cast of secondary characters Gilmore Girls had.

The love was... okay, I guess. You understand immediately there's a lot to unpack between the relationship between Sadie and Jake, that they've had a pass, though I found I didn't really understand the chemistry between them, the appeal of Jake. Probably one of the strangest scenes involved Sadie finding a dog in the woods she understood to be Jake's, then later trying to conceal the fact she had this dog, then refusing to give the dog back to his owner. This was written to be "cute" but it wasn't a scene that worked for me.

I think this book will be great for a lot of people, though it didn't work for me. It's definitely cozy, slow-moving, sort gives me energy like a Virgin River/Good Witch mash-up, but I don't think the comps really fit the bill.

Unfortunately, I DNFed this book after less than one-third of it. The writing started off very flowery and repetitive. It all went downhill when the MC's best friend showed up. Her first line is in Portuguese and it has a gross error that feels like the author simply plugged the phrase into Google Translate (It could be in another romantic language like Italian, but it would still be wrong. The author uses he/him instead of she/her). The author continues to throw in Portuguese phrases here and there without explaining why or even fleshing out the character. After that, it became tough to maintain immersion in the story. Despite that, I kept reading for a while, only to give up after a long scene where the MC and said friend have a moment of reminiscing about the past that feels like it was written for a teenager. I end up giving up on immersing myself in the story and frankly, stop rolling my eyes at the characters.

Title: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic
Author: Unknown

"The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" is a charming novel that expertly intertwines elements of magic, familial bonds, and the dynamics of small-town life. We explore this world through Sadie, a café owner who uses her unique magical ability to weave herbs into her baked goods, transforming them into magical delights.

The narrative echoes 'Practical Magic,' focusing heavily on themes of family and lineage magic, creating an inviting and cozy aura. The essence of 'Gilmore Girls' is represented through the book's small-town setting and the tapestry of unfolding drama. However, it lacks the quick wit and banter often associated with the popular show.

A heartwarming highlight of the book is the depiction of close family ties. The detailed and mouthwatering descriptions of magic-infused baking are not only tantalizing but also add an element of wonder to everyday activities. A delightful touch is the inclusion of related recipes at the end of each chapter, encouraging readers to partake in these mystical culinary creations.

Despite these strengths, the book's characterization leaves room for improvement. Sadie's occasional thoughtlessness disrupts the readers' connection to her. The side characters, including Sadie's love interest, Jake, lack depth, failing to exhibit genuine motivations or behaviors.

In summary, "The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic" offers an enchanting blend of magic, family, and small-town drama. However, its character development falls short of fully satisfying. It is an apt choice for readers who enjoy a narrative that explores the intersections of family, magic, and drama within a tight-knit community. Those anticipating the wittiness typical of 'Gilmore Girls,' however, might be left wanting.

Please note content warnings for themes including cancer, attempted suicide, and the death of a family member. An advance copy was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

What an incredible and heartwarming story. If you loved The Ex Hex, Legends and Lattes and The Secret Society of Very Irregular Witches, this is the book for you. I was looking for a book like this one, it felt like a hug from a friend, and it had that cozy component the other three I mentioned have.
Even though the story felt predictable at times, I was engaged the whole time and actually cared about these characters.
I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for something lighthearted and cozy.


Final rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up)

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me a chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.